Transform your reception – the face of your business

What do your customers see when they walk through your doors? For many Surrey businesses, the answer is a drab and prosaic reception area, which doesn’t properly represent the company behind it. As the reception and public meeting areas are often the only part of your business that a client will see, you’re doing your company a disservice if you neglect them. As a comparison, it would be like turning up to a meeting with a great presentation, a smart suit jacket and sweat pants: the last detail undermines the whole picture.

Transforming your reception and meeting areas is easier than you might think. At Surrey Marble and Granite we’ve worked with businesses to add transformative details, such as a statement wall or marble floor, as well as doing complete overhauls, often led by a designer. Our expertise is ready to support your project.

What message are you trying to convey?

Different businesses resonate with people in different ways, and have very different atmospheres. As an example, a spa might choose an opulent look, creating a luxurious atmosphere with high-quality natural materials, such as bamboo furnishings and marble floors. A medical centre, on the other hand, might use the same material, a marble floor, as part of a crisp, clean, authoritative remodel. Colour, line and material are all part of the process, so it’s important to use suppliers whose products support your company ethos.

Choose quality over quantity

Ordering a few pieces of corporate art or adding a couple of chairs is an easy way to give your reception area a new look, but it’s often a waste of time. Creating visual clutter and disrupting paths through the space should only be done if the overall effect is harmonious and an improvement. Instead, focussing on high quality materials lets you create a statement without impinging on the space. Beautiful limestone wall tiles or granite counter top naturally draw the eye, making your reception desk the focal point without adding clutter.

Make it practical, too

As well as being an opulent and welcoming space, your reception area is also a workplace, and needs to be both functional and practical so your staff can work effectively. Consider the placement of ornamental and functional items, and ensure that staff and customers are able to move around easily. Materials are critical too, and as stone is incredibly durable, hygienic and easy to clean, it’s a great choice for floors, tiling and surfaces.

Health and safety matters

Layout is a key factor here, as are industry related regulations, so it may be worth discussing your ideas with a professional interior designer or architect. For example, basic health and safety standards suggest that you should avoid slippery surfaces underfoot so a natural limestone floor or a treated marble floor may be preferable to a highly polished wood or stone.